Bayan© Photo Healy Racing
Popular gelding and one-time Ladbroke Hurdle winner Bayan has been retired following a disappointing run at last week’s Listowel festival.
The eight year old was the winner of seven races and E286,117 in prizemoney and having initially raced on the flat for Brian Meehan in Britain, was purchased as a maiden by the Core Syndicate to be trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott.
Bayan won twice on the flat for Elliott and five times over hurdles, including a Grade 3 success in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot in December 2015, when providing jockey Davy Condon with his final big race success before his injury-enforced retirement in the 2015 Aintree Grand National.
Attheraces’ presenter Gary O’Brien is a member of that syndicate and today reported “sadly we’ve had to call time on Bayan’s racing career - it’s basically just a case of wear and tear from his old injury catching up with him. We could have persevered but Gordon didn’t think it would be fair on the horse and everyone was 100% in agreement.
“He’s been an incredible servant and a big part of our lives for the last five years. I suppose the Ladbroke Hurdle win under Davy Condon would have to be the highlight but in the twelve months before that he was placed in a Coral Cup, Galway Hurdle and a November Handicap on the flat, all of which were great days to be a part of.
“Gordon and his team, especially Louise Dunne, did brilliantly with him and thanks also go to Ryan McElligott for looking after him while he was out injured and Emily McMahon, who did a great job building him up to go back into training.
‘Busty' Amond and Mouse O’Ryan found him for us at the 2012 horses-in-training sale and I doubt we’ll be as lucky to come across another one like him again. The great thing is he’s getting out in one piece and he’ll hopefully have a long and happy retirement now."
